These are the initial rules with which Unanomic started.

Adapted from http://www.ravenblack.net/~unanomic/irules.html

'Rule 1 - The Ruleset'

The current Ruleset is the combination of the Ruleset most recently posted in "rules.html" at the Unanomic webpage and the "Changes Pending" section of the Unanomic webpage, with Changes Pending taking precedence over "rules.html". If a Rule requires a modification to the web interface, it becomes a Rule only when this modification is made.

At any time, all Citizens must abide by all the Rules in the current Ruleset. A Rule is a numbered section of the Ruleset.

Capitalised terms in the Ruleset refer to Unanomic-specific uses of such words, if these are defined in the Ruleset.

Anything not prohibited by a Rule is permitted, with the exception of changing the Ruleset or Game Data, which is only permitted when the Ruleset explicitly or implicitly permits it.

Game Data is defined as any information the Ruleset requires to be stored.

'Rule 2 - Citizens and the Drudge'

Anyone taking part in Unanomic is known as a Citizen. One Citizen is in charge of the manual tasks required by the Ruleset, such as updates to the Ruleset and Game Data. This Citizen is referred to as the Drudge. The current Drudge is RavenBlack?. (raven@ravenblack.net)

Each Citizen has a Name which must be different from the Names of other Citizens. Any person may apply to become a Citizen by sending private email to the Drudge, stating "I would like to join Unanomic, using the Name [name?", where [name? is replaced by their Name of choice. If the Drudge chooses to accept this application, that person becomes a Citizen.

A Citizen may leave the game at any time by declaring this to the Mailing List.

'Rule 3 - Rule Numbering and Conflict'

When a new Rule is added to the Ruleset, it is given a number one higher than the current highest Rule number, and a name as specified by the Proposal that creates it.

In a conflict between two or more sentences in the Ruleset, the more specific takes precedence. If the conflict is still in question, the one in the Rule with the lower number takes precedence.

'Rule 4 - Timing and Updates'

Things take effect in Unanomic based on an arbitrary time scale. For ease of reference on this time scale, a Cycle refers to 48 hours.

When a modification to Game Data or the Ruleset is supposed to take place, it is assumed to take place immediately. In many cases, updates such as this will appear in the "pending updates" section of the website. If they do not, they are still assumed to have taken place, and the game should continue with these changes taken into account.

The Drudge will periodically propagate these updates into the appropriate pieces of Ruleset or Game Data.

'Rule 5 - Proposals'

A Citizen may submit Proposals at any time. A Proposal is a suggested modification (or a series of modifications) to the Ruleset or Game Data. Each Proposal must have a title. A Citizen may not submit more than three Proposals such that they all appear during the same Cycle.

Citizens may include comments in their Proposals. Any text enclosed by curly braces - "{}" - will not affect the Ruleset or Game Data when the Proposal containing them passes.

Proposals are made through the Unanomic website's Proposal interface.

'Rule 6 - Vetos'

During the Cycle after a Proposal is submitted, it will appear on the Unanomic website's Proposal interface. Any Citizen may, at any time, choose to Veto any of the Proposals in this state, using the Proposal interface. A reason should be given, but is not mandatory.

A Proposal that has been Vetoed is marked as such, with the name of the Citizen who Vetoed it, and the reason they gave.

Any Proposal that has not been Vetoed within a Cycle of its submission is Enacted - the modifications it requires are made.

'Rule 7 - Killing Citizen Kane'

A Proposal whose only effect is to remove a Citizen from Unanomic is known as a Boot Proposal. If a Citizen vetoes a Boot Proposal whose effect was to remove them from Unanomic, that Citizen is immediately removed from Unanomic.